What is KBS? A Practical Guide for Property Owners

One of the most basic legal obligations for accommodation businesses such as hotels, apartments, guesthouses, and daily rental apartments in Turkey is the Identity Notification System (KBS).

Many landlords who are new to the short-term rental world have the same question in mind:

“Am I required to ask for identification from guests? How should I do this? Should I write it in the Airbnb/Booking descriptions?”

In this article, let’s explain KBS in simple terms within the framework of Homeyday’s operating logic.

1. What is KBS?

KBS (Identity Notification System) is the official system used by accommodation facilities to report guest identity information to the Police, operating under the Ministry of Interior.

Purpose:

• To keep records of staying individuals for security reasons,

• To conduct necessary data tracking for fighting crime and criminals,

• To ensure that all types of accommodation facilities operate under the same legal responsibility.

In other words:

Saying, “I only rent out 1 apartment daily, I am not a hotel” does not
eliminate the KBS obligation.
If you are conducting accommodation activity, you are also a part of this system.

2. Why is KBS so Important?

KBS is not a system that is “good to have”,
it is a legal obligation.

The risks awaiting businesses that do not fulfill their KBS obligations:

• Administrative monetary fines,

• Suspension of the activity,

• Heavier sanctions for repeated violations.

Especially in short-term rentals:

• “I only listed on Airbnb”

• “I am not a realtor, I am a landlord”

such justifications are not legally valid.
The state looks at the actual situation, meaning the accommodation activity being conducted.

At this point, Homeyday tells the landlord:

“For every property we host guests commercially,
we view and implement KBS as a legal responsibility.”

3. Am I Required to Ask for Identification from Guests?

Yes.
The short answer is this.

For everyone staying (it does not matter if they are a Turkish citizen or a foreigner):

• Identification/passport information must be obtained,

• It must be reported to the Police via KBS.

This:

• Relates to submitting identification at hotels,

• Also requires daily rental apartments to use the same system,

• In other words, it is based on having the same standard across all accommodation facilities.

Having a reservation made through Airbnb or Booking does not eliminate this responsibility.
Platforms are merely reservation intermediaries, the legal responsibility still lies with the operator and property owner.

4. Do I Have to Write it in the Airbnb/Booking Description?

There is a dilemma frequently experienced here:

• On one hand, a legal obligation:
  It is a must to ask for identification/passport from guests and report it to KBS.

• On the other hand, platform competition:
  Writing in a very strict or “formal language” in the description can make the listing seem more “distant”.

Homeyday prefers the middle way here:

1. Does not compromise on legal requirements.
   Identification/passport information is obtained, and reported to KBS.

2. Softens the communication language and provides clarification.
   Gives this message to the guest:

“According to the accommodation laws in Turkey,
your identification/passport information will be reported to the Police via the KBS system before check-in.
This is a legal obligation applicable to all accommodation facilities.”

This way:

• Neither does the guest become unnecessarily anxious,

• Nor does the landlord/operator maintain the legal line.

5. How Does Homeyday Manage the KBS Process?

When you work with Homeyday, the communication with the guest is structured around this logic:

1. After the reservation is confirmed:

   • A pre-check-in informational message is sent to the guest.

   • This message informs that identification/passport information will be collected due to country legislation.

2. Data collection before check-in:

   • The information requested from the guest is clear, limited, and professionally requested:

     • First and last name,

     • Turkish Identification number or passport number,

     • Date of birth, etc., which are mandatory fields for KBS.

3. KBS Notification:

   • The collected information is reported to the Police through the relevant system.

   • After the notification, the guest’s check-in process is completed.

4. Self Check-in / Entry with Keybox:

   • After KBS notification is completed,
     the location, keybox code, and entry instructions are shared with the guest.

This way:

• The legal responsibility is fulfilled with the state,

• And the guest feels that the process is progressing professionally and orderly.

6. What Should I Say When Guests Ask “Why Are We Providing Identification?”

Landlords and operators can get stuck here.
Especially recent discussions through platforms reflect this.

A clear but soft explanation that can be used in this situation may go as follows:

“According to the accommodation laws in Turkey,
it is mandatory to report guests’ identification/passport information to the Police
in all hotels and daily rental accommodations.
Therefore, we request this information from you before check-in.
The entire process is conducted through KBS (Identity Notification System),
via secure and official channels.”

Homeyday also takes over the correspondence part with the guest:

• Does not draw you into the debate,

• Uses politically and legally correct language,

• Minimizes the risk of possible “misunderstandings” with the platforms.

7. Possible Consequences of Ignoring KBS

Ignoring KBS while doing short-term rentals may seem “more practical” in the short term, but it carries serious risks in the long term:

• If during an inspection it turns out that “the staying guest was not reported”:

  • Administrative penalties,

  • As the process prolongs, suspension of the activity,

  • Stricter sanctions upon repetition.

Additionally, in the event of any incident:

• Arguments like “I only rented out my home” are not considered light legally.

• If you are conducting accommodation activity, you are considered a part of the system.

For this reason, Homeyday sets this line at the beginning of the work:

“We will not be a part of any illegal model.
We manage the process in a way to keep both our landlords and guests
within the legal framework.”

8. What is Your Role as a Landlord?

When you work with Homeyday, you do not need to deal directly with the technical side of the KBS process.
However, it is important to be informed on the following matters:

• In every case where your property is used for accommodation,
  the identification/passport information of everyone staying that night is obtained and reported.

• When a guest asks “why is my ID requested?”,
  it is sufficient to use the language used by Homeyday.

• Requests from landlords like “there is no need for this formality”
  are not accepted by Homeyday due to legal risks.

In summary:

“You are aware of the regulations and approve in principle,
while Homeyday manages the technical and practical flow.”

Conclusion: KBS is Not a Burden, but a Part of Trust

Rather than seeing KBS solely as “a government obligation”,
it is healthier to think of it as “a layer of security that formalizes your business and protects you”.

When you work with Homeyday:

• Guest check-ins and check-outs are recorded,

• You move knowing your responsibilities,

• You are prepared for possible inspections,

• In case of misunderstandings with platforms,
  a professional team stands behind you.